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MOTORISTS are bracing for delays today following the fatal
collision in the Burnley Tunnel yesterday.

But VicRoads said last night the tunnel could reopen today.
Until it does, westbound traffic on the West Gate Freeway will be
diverted at the Kings Way exit for travel via the Princes
Highway.

West Gate traffic can also exit at Montague Street and travel
via City Road, Swan Street, Batman Avenue and the Monash Freeway.
Motorists from the city travelling east are advised to access the
Monash Freeway via the Punt Road and Burnley Street ramps.

Motorists in the South Melbourne area wishing to travel east
should use Nepean Highway and North Road. Trucks are advised to use
Kings Way, Queens Way, then Princes Highway (East).

The mayhem caused by yesterday's crash and tunnel closure was
exacerbated less than two hours later when a high-pressure gas leak
occurred in Malvern. Traffic in Punt Road, Malvern Road, High
Street, Toorak Road and on the Monash Freeway stopped as the
temperature soared to 37 degrees.

The ruptured pipe led to the closure of Glenferrie Road between
Wattletree and Dandenong roads, as more than 200 people were
evacuated from surrounding houses and businesses. Commander of
operations for the Metropolitan Fire Brigade's south zone, Darren
Davies, said an excavating crew had breached a gas main on the
corner of Evandale and Glenferrie roads about 11.30am.

Fierce winds fanned the leak, forcing the fire brigade to cut
electricity, which halted tram services along a large section of
Glenferrie Road.

Malvern Station was shut for almost three hours and train
services on the Cranbourne, Frankston and Pakenham lines were
forced to terminate at Caulfield Station.

Emergency shuttle buses linked Caulfield and Windsor stations,
but Connex spokesman Andrew Cassidy said it was impossible to
provide other services because of the gridlock caused by the
Burnley Tunnel crash.

Stations at Toorak, Hawksburn and Armadale were affected for
several hours. "People there just have to walk to Windsor or get
there the best way they can," Mr Cassidy said.

Commuters stuck at Caulfield were frustrated but many remained
philosophical. Clayton resident Jason Carruthers said he would "sit
and wait it out". "We're all hot and bothered, but it's one of
those things that you can't really blame on anyone," he said.

While Melbourne's public transport system returned to normal by
late yesterday afternoon, road users travelling to the south-east
faced major delays.